In this lesson, children learn that God is King over all the earth and that He keeps His promises, even when things look scary. This lesson is for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is the King of the whole world, and He takes care of His people even when trouble comes. We can trust Him because He is always with us.
Memory Verse
Zechariah 14:9
The LORD will be King over all the earth. In that day the LORD will be one, and his name one.
(WEB)
Teach children to hold both arms up high like a crown on their heads, then slowly sweep them out wide, like a king’s arms spreading across the whole earth. Say the words together as you move, and repeat the motion three times.
The Story: Zechariah 14 for Kids
Long ago, God’s people lived in the city of Jerusalem. The prophet Zechariah told them that a special day was coming, a day that belongs to the LORD. On that day, enemy nations would gather together to fight against Jerusalem. The people inside the city would be scared, and some of them would be taken away from their homes.
But God said He would not leave His people alone. He told them that He would go out and fight for them, just as He had fought for them in the past. Standing on the Mount of Olives, God would make the mountain split in two, creating a huge valley. His people could run through that valley to escape the danger, just as their ancestors had fled from a great earthquake long before.
The day would be unusual. There would be no regular daytime or nighttime, but in the evening there would be light. God also promised that living water would flow out from Jerusalem, going out in two directions, and that it would keep flowing all year long, both in summer and in winter. Jerusalem would be a safe place to live, and nobody would be cursed there anymore.
Then God made a big promise. He said, “The LORD will be King over all the earth.” God’s name would be known everywhere, and every person in the world would one day come to worship Him. Those who had fought against Jerusalem would be stopped by God’s power, and they would be confused and afraid.
At the end of the chapter, even the bells on the horses and the cooking pots in the Temple would be marked as holy to the LORD. Everything would belong to God. The people of the world would come to Jerusalem each year to worship the King and celebrate the Feast of Tents, and God’s care would reach to every corner of the earth.
Read It Together
Zechariah 14:3
Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
(WEB)
Point out that the LORD says He will go out and fight for His people. Ask children to notice that God is not sitting on the sidelines. He steps in to protect the ones He loves, just like a good parent steps between a child and something frightening.
Zechariah 14:7
It will be a unique day which is known to the LORD; not day, and not night; but it will come to pass, that at evening time there will be light.
(WEB)
Show children that this day is strange and special, and that God knows exactly when it will come. Explain that even when we do not understand what is happening, God always understands and always knows the way forward.
Zechariah 14:20-21
20 In that day there will be on the bells of the horses, “HOLY TO YAHWEH”; and the pots in the LORD’s house will be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the LORD of Armies; and all those who sacrifice will come and take of them, and cook in them. In that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of Armies.
(WEB)
Help children see that God’s holiness reaches even into everyday things like horse bells and cooking pots. Explain that God wants all of life to belong to Him, including our ordinary days at home, school, and play.
Talk About It
- What do you think it would feel like to be inside Jerusalem when enemies came, and how could God help you feel brave?
- Why do you think God wanted His people to run through the valley He made, instead of staying in the city?
- What does it mean that God is King over all the earth, and what does a good king do for the people he loves?
- How can you show God that He is the King of your everyday life, like at school or at home?
- Why do you think God promised that everyone would one day come to worship Him?
Activity Ideas
Crown Drawing Craft
You will need paper, crayons or markers, scissors, and tape. Have each child draw a large crown on the paper and decorate it with bright colors and shapes. Ask them to write or draw one thing that God rules over, such as the sky, the ocean, or their own family. Cut out the crowns and tape them into headbands for the children to wear during the lesson.
King of the Mountain Game
Clear an open space in your room or yard, and place a pillow or folded blanket in the center to act as the mountain. Have children stand in a circle and run toward the mountain when you call out “Run to the valley!” When you call “God is King!”, everyone stops, raises both arms high, and shouts together. Play several rounds to help children link movement with the lesson’s truth.
Take-Home Promise Jar
You will need an empty jar, paper strips, and a pen. Ask each child to write or draw one way they have seen God take care of them this week. Fold the strips and place them in the jar at home. Encourage the family to read one strip together at dinner each night to remember that God is still King and still faithful.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Zechariah 14 is a picture of the Lord’s final victory over evil and His rightful reign over all the nations. The chapter speaks of God fighting for His people, of His presence bringing light and life to Jerusalem, and of the nations finally recognizing Him as King. Its hope is that God’s kingdom will be complete, and that everything, even the most ordinary objects, will belong to Him.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the details of the future events described in this chapter. Children do not need to understand every symbol or timeline in order to grasp the main truth: God is King, He keeps His promises, and He cares for His people. Keep the focus on trust and on God’s faithfulness.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for being the King of the whole world. Thank You that You protect us and never leave us alone. Help us trust You when things feel scary, and help us remember that everything belongs to You. We love You, and we want to follow You every day. Amen.
